45 gallon tall - help and guidance needed

[Brando457]

Thanks to my cousin I recently setup a 14 gallon biocube as my first saltwater fish tank. He has given me a 45 gallon tall tank with stand for my next upgrade.

It is not drilled so I am looking to not do a sump. After researching it seems that I would be capable of running the tank with a protein skimmer and powerheads for movement.

Unless a member on here has a tank they are selling that is RR or has another suggestion I will most likely end up doing this tank.

Livestock would include: 2 ocellaris clowns and maybe another fish or two and some SPS and LPS in the future.


Skimmers:

1. AquaC Remora Pro Hang-On Protein Skimmer w/ Drain Fitting + Mag-Drive 3 Pump

2. Coralife Super Skimmer

Does anyone recommend this or a different one?


Lighting:
1. Current Nova Extreme Pro Saltwater T-5 Fixture
- 3-54 watt 10,000°K
- 3-54 watt 460 nm actinic

2. AquaticLife T5 HO and Lunar Light Fixtures
- 2-54W Actinic
- 2-54W 10,000°K

3. 48 inch Current USA SunDial T5 HO 4x54W

It would be great if someone could tell me the pros and cons or which they would recommend.

I appreciate any help and am excited to be upgrading.

- Brandon

 

[redfishbluefish]

Drill the tank!

www.glass-holes.com

Kit comes complete with overflow, hole saw and candy. ;D

 

[shipwrecked]

Brandon, I would rec drilling the tank too,if you didnt want to do the glassholes.com thing you could make a "box" for the overflows with glass you could buy at hd or loews,which I did for my 125.Doing a sump would be optimum and Im sure you wouldnt be dissapointed in the long run of the tank.The setup in the beginning may be more work,but def worth it.also best bang for the buck I found the asm skimmers do a great job...these are of course all my opinions and suggestions..best of luck and keep us posted

 

[Brando457]

So instead of drilling the tank I think I'm going to bite the bullet and buy one that is already drilled.

If I'm lucky maybe a member on here is selling a tank I could use.

As far as protein skimmer and lighting what are your takes on that?

 

[mnat]

If you are not going to drill the tank or get a sump, I would recommend the Aqua C Remora skimmer as a HOB. Lighting I would go with the six bulb setup you have listed (depending on what type of corals you want to keep).

 

[Brando457]

If you are not going to drill the tank or get a sump, I would recommend the Aqua C Remora skimmer as a HOB. Lighting I would go with the six bulb setup you have listed (depending on what type of corals you want to keep).

mnat I have been looking at the glass-holes.com site and may end up drilling the tank or if I can find a member on here selling a tank I would buy that.

I'm leaning towards drilling the tank or buying a used tank, so the Aqua C is out I think.

What is a good in sump skimmer?

 

[Brando457]

If you are not going to drill the tank or get a sump, I would recommend the Aqua C Remora skimmer as a HOB. Lighting I would go with the six bulb setup you have listed (depending on what type of corals you want to keep).

In regards to the corals most likely SPS and maybe LPS in the future.

 

[mnat]

I have never had an in sump skimmer, so I can't help you there. If you are going to go with SPS and LPS then go with the 6 bulb setup look at TEK or ATI, they are among the best. Look around for sales right now, they are expensive setups.

 

[Brando457]

I have never had an in sump skimmer, so I can't help you there. If you are going to go with SPS and LPS then go with the 6 bulb setup look at TEK or ATI, they are among the best. Look around for sales right now, they are expensive setups.

So even with the sump you run a HOB?

 

[mnat]

No I have never had a sump nor have one now. That is why we run HOB skimmers.

 

[Brando457]

No I have never had a sump nor have one now. That is why we run HOB skimmers.

Sorry I misunderstood, as it stands right now I'm researching sumps and building my own and most likely will end up buying the kit from glassholes.

My question is their kit would cover the overflow, which then leads to the sump. Then I would need a second kit that they sell to place the return hole. Is that correct?

 

[redfishbluefish]

You will be happy with the glass-holes overflow. We put the 1500 gph in a 90 gallon tank. Here’s the Tale-of-the-Tank thread:

http://www.njreefers.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=26&topic=15806.0

I’m not sure what you are questioning, but you only need one kit and I would suggest the 700 gph for a 45 gallon tank. You could go with the 1500, but I think that would be overkill. What you would then need is a return pump that pumps less than 700gph. That should do it.

 

[shipwrecked]

Actually,some dont drill another hole for the return,just have it (the pvc pipe) come up and over the back of the tank